seen in their home country before . they went 31 games undefeated before losing their final match , on 24 august 1889 , 7 – 2 to auckland . the natives ' final record in rugby matches was 78 wins , 6 draws and 23 losses . they introduced a number of tactical innovations to new zealand rugby on their return home , and their tour contributed to the formation of the new zealand rugby football union in 1892 . seventeen of the team ' s 26 players went on to play provincial ##ly in new zealand , and two , thomas ellison and david gage , subsequently captained the new zealand national rugby team . = = background = = the idea for ass ##em ##bling a
seen in their home country before. they went 31 games undefeated before losing their final match, on 24 august 1889, 7 – 2 to auckland. the natives'final record in rugby matches was 78 wins, 6 draws and 23 losses. they introduced a number of tactical innovations to new zealand rugby on their return home, and their tour contributed to the formation of the new zealand rugby football union in 1892. seventeen of the team's 26 players went on to play provincially in new zealand, and two, thomas ellison and david gage, subsequently captained the new zealand national rugby team. = = background = = the idea for assembling a